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tv   Action News Papal Visit  ABC  September 26, 2015 3:30pm-6:01pm EDT

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has been very, very peaceful. everybody is very excited and we're glad to see that there aren't really any major problems with people getting inside. of course no security concerns that we have to worry about at this point and everybody just seems to be in a great mood. they're hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope as he goes into his event here which will happen in just about an hour. live at independence mall, i'm wendy saltzman channel6 "action news." >> thank you wendy. let us now go to the ben franklin parkway which will be the focus of attention later tonight. "action news" reporter annie mccormick is there. annie, what do you see? > >> reporter: jim this is where the party will happen later on. after he does the parade then he's going to come down here and he is going to greet the millions we expect that have been out here since very early this morning, we have people from bell clear skies from the philadelphia area, we have people that have relocated from haiti.
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they're so excited to be out here. the smith family from bridesburg came out here. you were the first one in line. tell me what time did you get out here and what was your game plan? >> well, we got out here probably like between 5:00 and like 5:15 and my like game plan was just get in, get a good spot because like growing up like the pope is your idol. it's like whoa, the pope. >> reporter: what kind of school do you go to? this will give you extra credit. >> hallahan high school right over there actually. >> reporter: nice. you're with your family. we got to show you these shirts, jim. pope adelphia. what does your say. >> fill. >> reporter: your mom mrs. smith at home in bridesburg she has a flyers one on, right. being able to bring your kids out here to this event, world meeting of families, what does it mean to you? >> everything. not only are you seeing ahead of state you're seeing the head of the roman catholic church and the fact he's going to be 20 feet from us, the man came to philadelphia conquering the city with a
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smile and a handshake and everybody loves him. it's a couple hundred thousand people here and where else would you rather be? >> reporter: fantastic. we want to give people at home an idea of what the smiths and everybody else out here are going see. even more people over here. you can see a lot of people are there waving. we're tethered so we can only get so far but these ladies are here. if you look up chris will show you the jumbotron. this is the front of the ticketed area. even the people like the smiths who got here at 5 o'clock this morning, they rode their bikes down also before they went through the security checkpoints this is as far as they can get and in front of them you see that you see the stage there, there's a lot of media on the other side, that's where some of our "action news" remote studios are now and beyond there is the stage so these jumbotrons actually are really making this event. it's going to be able to includes so many more people, people on the sides of the parkway as well. let me take you over here. this is an also the ticketed area as well and this is an area over here that a number of people are going to be in.
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there's also food vendors and more jumbo he tons as you get further out. they're expecting more people to come out here later on as the events tend to wind down throughout the city of philadelphia today and big names are expected out here. philadelphia orchestra of course our hometown orchestra but also andrea bocceli who has sung for the pope numerous times actually, his ava maria. juanes is expected to perform and mark wahlberg will be the host we think we may have gotten a glimpse of him driving by. i'm not sure but he's been in and about around center city over the past couple days getting prepared to be host for all of these big names and to bring smiles to all the people that are out here in the crowd tonight but that is what we're seeing at this point. if you are at home, if you don't have a ticket, this is a ticketed event. however, i will tell you that if you are able to come down, you can just walk down as far as you can get without a ticket and you're going to be able to see on the jumbotrons and you'll get the feeling of
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being in the festival. you'll get the feeling of being around people. it might be easier to maneuver to be able to get out, see friends, greet people get something to eat, use the bathroom, you might be able to get a feel of the whole festival there they are having down here right now and again, tomorrow we are expecting even more people to be out here for the mass. but that's what we're seeing right now live on the parkway, annie mccormick channel6 "action news." jim. >> annie you can tell from your expression and from your report lots of good feelings on the ben franklin parkway. but let's go to the front row and "action news" reporter sarah bloomquist. or almost the front row, sarah. >> reporter: how did i get this ticket, jim? we're here on eakins oval. it's a bright sunny feels like summer day and there is so much excitement here on eakins oval. the sound checks continue on the stage behind me and it's been some peppy music in the last few minutes so that's helping to get people excited. you can see the rows and rows of white seats behind me.
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these are people who i guess you can say scored great seats through their parishes. many of them didn't even realize just how close they were going to be to the stage where the performers and pope will be in a few hours. for these people they said it was a piece of cake getting here. they parked at the mann theater and were shuttled in. we spoke with janice thomas from west oak lane. she does so much for her parish. she was awarded with a seat up close and she was overwhelmed with emotion. how did you get these great seats? >> well, my priest at my parish thought i did such a great job registering everybody for the world meeting of families that he treated no, sir a ticket. >> wme to a ticket. >> what's going through your head and heart now that it's here. >> i am so overwhelmed and so blessed to be here and i can't wait to see the holy father. >> reporter: you're going to be a few rows away from the pope. >> yes, i am and i am overly
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excited. i actually cried when i saw him step off that tarmac this morning and he is here in my city, philadelphia. i am so proud and i'm so proud to be a catholic this week. this has been the greatest experience. >> ♪ >> reporter: and as we look back live -- as we look back live you can see the heavy security here. they are shuttling people up to this point. there's security guards from multiple agencies lining the parkway and lining this perimeter here but a few hundred feet hero after row of white seats and people starting to file in right now to take their places again as i said, many of them didn't know they were going to really be up this close. they all -- many are from local parishes and they were awarded these seats because of what they have done for their church. you can see there are nuns. we talked to many families who are here, a father and daughter. they're story is that his
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sister is a nun and so she was able to get them the tickets to come up here. a lot of people weren't really sure what the program was going to be like tonight. they weren't really entirely sure what they would be attending but it's going to be a combination as we have been telling you of music even some comedy. there are ballet dancers on the stage right now just going through the motions and rehearsing, checking out the sound on the mics as well. really there are cameras set up and those are where they'll be broadcasting to those jumbotrons. this is a signed -- assigned seating here. elsewhere on the parkway it's first come first served and people have been lining up there since very early this morning. many have their flags draped across the barricades to let the pope know exactly where they are from. many from south american nations from central america as well. so, they are getting ready for the program here. they are taking their seats and waiting for this all to
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get started on what is a very bright sunny and beautiful day here on eakins oval as we await the show to start and the pope to arrive. live on eakins oval, i'm sarah bloomquist channel6 "action news." jim, back to you. >> thank you, sarah. we'll switch live to "action news" medical reporter and registered nurse ali gorman who is at one of the emergency medical stations that have been set up in and around the city of philadelphia. ali fare to say that the cool temperatures are a blessing for emergency medical personnel throughout philadelphia. >> reporter: definitely, jim. it's a great day out here. we're not expecting to see a lot of dehydration. it's really -- it's cool when the wind blows. that's not one of the big concerns today, not like something that we would see on the fourth of july. there are 10 first aid tents set up around the city. this is one of them here on --
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right off of broad and spring garden. now, they're just kind of on stand by. they have treated two patients just for minor injuries. so, they're on stand by. but meanwhile, as everyone has alluded to the excitement in the city is palpable. take a look at this video. as i walked over here today, i saw pilgrims dancing and singing in the streets. they are celebrating the arrival of pope francis into philadelphia. and if you couldn't see him at the basilica, people lined up outside the secure zone and they were able to catch a glimpse as he went by in the motorcade after mass. now, of course, hall riding in that fiat and we saw him put his hand up and he waved to the crowd. >> what did you think catching a glimpse. >> it was awesome. >> it was surreal. >> it was cool. >> we were watching on tv and to see it in the moment is incredible. >> just to be a part of it. we're one of the few people we know that decided to stay in town to be here to see it, it
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is really cool. >> we just were coming down to go to the parkway and they said the pope went right past us and it's just like unbelievable. i got the chills and started crying. you could just see him. >> reporter: it was really a very cool moment. a lot of people just walking down to the parkway and then they realized oh, the motorcade is going to be coming by so they just kind of lined the streets and waited and as that fiat went by you could catch a glimpse of the pope. he kind of put his hands up and he waved and as he went down the ramp he kept waving to people, so it was an exciting moment there for everybody lined up and just kind of taking an impromptu glimpse at the pope. so, even though most of the events are at certain places in the city, the parties, the parade will be on the parkway but the excitement is everywhere in the city and at the first aid tents there are dozens of volunteers as i
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said. there are 10 first aid and medical tents around the city and they are manned and ready and will be there to treat pilgrims if anybody needs help. so, that is the latest. we are live in spring garden, ali gorman, channel6 "action news." >> ali, thank you so much. "action news" reporter chad pradelli is on the philadelphia side of the ben franklin parkway and chad it look like it's just party time on that bridge today. >> reporter: it is a good time out here, jim. a steady stream of people continue to make their way across the ben franklin bridge walking the two-mile walk from camden here to pennsylvania and philadelphia. as you can see you can see a lot of people are now making their way back. here he over the past couple hours we've seen the crowds grow just a tad. officials tell me they estimate so far roughly 2500 people have made that two-mile walk. now here is some video he from earlier this morning on the camden side as security was tight, the lines were short as
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people made their way through the security checkpoints. law enforcement got them through there rather quickly as they checked bags and other belongings before making that two-mile trek. we made the walk and like ali talked about and you talked about the weather has been so cooperative. it really wasn't a bad walk and for a lot of these people this walk is part of the pilgrimage and part of the spiritual journey to get across the bridge here to philadelphia to see pope francis. >> well, it was a last minute thing for us. we didn't have any options. we had to walk. >> i feel like people are eager to see what he says. people are moving towards him. he definitely is, you know, an inspiration to a lot of people and for him coming to philadelphia, you know, very historic moment. >> reporter: now, while some people are walking, others are taking pa patco. the patco officials actually tell me that they actually scaled back the service a bit going from the express trains to the local ones making all four stops along the route. people can just go a patco
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station buy a ticket hop on and get across. officials tell me so far roughly 15,000 people have used patco to get across the ben franklin bridge. officials also want people to know that they're still trying to decide if they're coming tomorrow you can park along the camden waterfront. there are still 8,000 parking spaces along the waterfront. you do have to register in advance and pay but you can go to gateway to the pope.com. you can get to that web site through our web site and get one of those parking spaces but i got to tell you, we thought it was going to be much more crowded but the crowds have been nice. everyone is festive, in a great mood and just having a great time getting ready to see pope francis. i'm live along the ben franklin bridge, clad pradelli, channel6 "action news." jim. >> chanthank you chad. we'll return to monica malpass and rick williams in our parkway studio. >> we're here with father james martin from our area originally. whitemarsh, high school born
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down the road at hahnemann hospital and living in new york. welcome father. >> great to be back home. >> what are your thoughts and impressions so far of this amazing historical trip. >> him coming to my hometown i think is really exciting and i think philadelphians are so happy to be here. i've been walking through the streets and getting a sense of the energy. i was here in 1979 for pope john paul's visit claw exciting but i think there's even more excitement now. he's a world international figure. people love the guy and i think as we saw at the airport he has that human touch. >> now, when he speaks at independence mall in just a short time from now he's going to be touching on immigration, religious freedom. this is not a pope that shies away from the tough issues. >> his message is the gospel. if that has political overtones so be it. he has stressed immigration, the poor, income inequalities and mercy and compassion so those have been his great themes and if they ruffle some
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feathers he's not afraid of that. >> he's going to be going around parts of the city for short parades if you will in the popemobile but how can anyone forget the image as he asked his driver to stop and touches and kisses the head of a small child, an elderly normal regular aged person or someone infirmed it moves us. >> he does. he's doing what jesus did which is going to the people who may not be seen as first who may need the sort of touch that he provides. and the pope has this sort of unerring pastoral instinct. it comes natural. it's not on show, not something he's doing to curry favor but he does that naturally. >> many of the people we talked to on the parkway a lot aren't necessarily catholic but it's that global popularity of pope francis that brought them here and what do you think he will leave with philadelphia? certainly he's already touched the city just getting off the
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plane this morning but what is that you expect he'll leave here the city of brotherly love when he leaves tomorrow night. >> i think the warmth people have toward him. how much people love him. this is his first visit to the united states and for me frankly washington and new york had these kind of big attitudes i would say but philadelphia's a real american city, it's the city of neighborhoods, the city of people very down to earth and i hope he gets that feeling and he probably already has from his short time here. >> he's one of five children growing up in latin america and certainly his parents had -- they were immigrants so they had some challenges but did fairly well. i just wonder was think philadelphians resonate, what they feel when they see him besides his human touch, do they also feel like he is one of them the way he lives in his lifestyle in a small way in a little apartment in the hotel near the vatican as opposed to the papal palace and in a little black fiat not a big limousine. >> i think that's right. i think as a jesuit he took a vow of poverty at the beginning of his religious life so he's used to living
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simply. he embodies that great american value of being down to earth. he lives in a small apartment drives a small car, dresses very simply even the cuffs of his papal white cap are frayed. he's not only talking about the poor and simple lifestyle but he's living that as well. >> his speech at independence mall later today most of it will probably be in spanish. monica and i were in washington for the papal mass at the basilica there. much of it was in spanish but he has an aura that defies translation -- or needs no translation. >> i think that's right. he's obviously comfortable in spanish, that's his first language but also 30 percent of american catholics are hispanic so they're listening to him in their native language but just his gestures and his tone and his presence i think, he has a sense of welcome. with each group he is appropriate. with kids he's very quiet, with the un he's a little more public but he seems to have
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this unerring instinct for the right tone for the right group of people. >> incredible man. >> father james martin thank you very much for joining us. >> glad to have you. >> hopefully come back. we would like to hear more about when you were here in 79 for john paul. that would be interesting as well. >> my pleasure. >> thank you so much. back to you. >> we're going to go live to trish hartman. you can tell by the hawk. she's at saint joe's university where students again are waiting for the pope and the motorcade to come by. trish. >> reporter: well, jim, city avenue is a very popular place to be this afternoon. take a look down city avenue. saint joseph's students are everywhere. [cheers and applause] >> reporter: they are so excited. many of them got a chance to see the pontiff as he drove by in the motorcade earlier this afternoon on his way of course saint charles borromeo seminary is just up the street so as he passed by earlier this afternoon many people had a chance to see him and since then they've been camping out
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here. many people have been having picnics. we even saw a few students studying. they've been making a day of it. many have come here, waiting, hoping that the pope will pass by very soon so folks can get another glimpse of him as he passes by on his way to independence mall. i'm here with the president of saint joseph's university. saint joseph's a jesuit institution. pope francis is the first jesuit pope. tell us means to have him just right down the street here. >> it's historic. it's once in a life advertisement look down city avenue, look up city avenue, it's filled with saint joseph's university students showing the pride that they have in this institution and we're just thrilled and honored to be right here along his route. >> reporter: rumors have been swirling folks are hoping that he might make a stop on campus. do you have any insider information for us? do you think that might happen? >> sure. if i knew, i'd tell you but i don't. i don't know. i think it's safe to say you look at that bridge, you look at that banner i think pope
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francis knows he's passing by a jesuit university so we're hoping and we'll see. he's going to go by now and a couple more times so we're all saying a prayer. >> reporter: okay. president reed thank you so much. here's a student bella have voorhees new jersey. you're a freshman. what a way to kick off your freshman year. you got to see the pope earlier. >> it was incredible. i didn't really expect it. just kind of like was walking by and people go he to vatican city to see him so for me to be on campus and see him was incredible, incredible. >> reporter: you were able to get pretty close because he was just passing through and he was able to -- >> just in the little fiat driving by like it was nothing. so it was pretty cool, yeah. >> reporter: you're still hoping to see him again. >> yeah, might as well. i have nothing to do other than a little homework. >> reporter: you'll get to that later. >> absolutely. >> reporter: bella thank you. good luck. we're here on city avenue awaiting hoping that the pope will pass by here on city avenue. many students have been showing their spirit with shirts, with pope francis signs. these young ladies have been
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showing their spirit with pope francis cheers. ready to show us one of those. [cheers and applause] >> saint joe's loves the pope. >> say what. >> saint joe's loves the pope. >> reporter: there you have it lots of spirit, lots of energy from these folks here at saint joe's university. hoping to get a glimpse of pope francis as he makes his way in the motorcade down to independence mall for his address this evening. we're live on city avenue, trish hartman channel6 "action news." >> it would be moment, trish, if the pope stopped and shook hands with the hawk. that will never die. vernon odom is live at the pennsylvania convention center where the vatican spokesman wrapped up the session of the world meeting of families today. vern what did you hear. >> reporter: they're very enthused by the reception the pope is getting. it has been very uplifting for him and that brings on another topic. there's been a great deal of concern expressed about the pope's extensive schedule here whether he has been overbooked
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or not because some people are noting he looks exhausted at the end of his long days. his official spokesperson questioned extensively about that here just a few moments ago. >> very much the joy of the people. >> reporter: the pope's official spokesman says he labors to cope with the strenuous nature of his american schedule but he's drawing energy from the crowds that have come out to greet him. >> there are days that are better days that are worse sometimes. you also feel some problem and the next day is better. >> reporter: what kind of energies is the pope drawing from philadelphia so far? the end of his firstone flee to thjourney to the u.s.a. >> he comes to philadelphia with the great appreciation of the city as he said this morning in the cathedral but he's happy to meet people and the people of philadelphia are
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feeling him with great enthusiasm. >> reporter: jim, the pope does have only one lung and we saw him stumble some on airplane steps today but his press aide as you heard testifies as to the holy father's resilience. live at the convention center vernon odom channel6 "action news. >> thank you vernon. crowds are coming through market street making there way to independence mall. jeff chirico is on market street. jeff, what do you see there? >> reporter: hey, jim, there are thousands of people up and down market street from city hall down to seventh street, all waiting for pope francis to drive by. but what is so fascinating here is that we have no information that pope francis is even going to come by this street anywhere on this side of market street. yet people have been waiting for hours hoping to catch a glimpse of the popemobile, hoping that it will come by. now, if there is any hope, i guess you should hope in pope francis. but yet we have no information that he will come anywhere near here.
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in fact, we are told that he may be coming actually behind us down seventh street, then to independence hall. nonetheless, folks here, thousands of them gathered hoping to catch that glimpse. it's probably -- it probably says a lot about pope francis' popularity that people are willing to wait hours for someone that they may not even see. we spoke with some folks who came from florida, even though they have tickets to none of the events. >> we came from fort lauderdale florida. >> reporter: what brings you all the way from florida. >> the pope. we were excited about seeing him. i found out about it about eight months ago, called and got hotel rooms and we flew in yesterday and we're here strictly just to maybe get a glimpse of him and really to experience the energy in the city. what about the pope inspires you brings you here? what about him? >> just his -- the way he is with the people. he's just phenomenal. like this morning when he stopped his fiat got out and met the little kid -- the man actually in the wheelchair.
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he's just a kind spirit inside. >> reporter: did that bring you to tears. >> yeah. it was beautiful. >> reporter: does he speak to the young people, too? it seems that way. >> and this is the papal motorcade passing by saint joe's university. let's see if we can unfreeze that video as -- well, here it comes. [cheers and applause] some students turning around trying to get selfies with the fiat behind them and the pope is on his way to independence mall for the next major event, the next major event of this visit to philadelphia. you got it, guys. john rawlins is live at 30th street station. john, so much has been said, so much has been written about the essential nature of the journey into philadelphia by pilgrims that they should take mass transit. it look a little quiet behind
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you. what's the story? >> reporter: well, it's been interesting. first of all the headline we should say is that the system worked very well today, no glitches, everybody got in who wanted to get in. the puzzle here jim is the number of people who were riding on mass transit today. it was not as robust as expected. 55,000 reserve tickets were sold for today on the septa train system. only about half that number actually traveled on the rail system today. as we say its a puzzle. we were at paoli station today. that was the busiest of the stations and even there they did not have the numbers they were anticipating. >> i think it's going great. everyone is very excited to be going into philly to see the pope and everyone is excited to be riding septa and to the festival grounds. >> reporter: by all accounts the septa rail system ran smoothly here at paoli one of the 18 designated departure points officials were prepared for 7,000 plus riders who had reservations.
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but only 3534 actually showed up this morning. what rail traveling pilgrims lacked in numbers though they made up in enthusiasm some needing little prompting to dance and sing and, yes, that is the conga long. that relaxed festive mood carried over once the travelers were moving. trains designed to hold seven to 900 passengers were not full so riders could spread out for the nonstop trip to 30th street and plan the rest of their adventure. >> we were hoping to have a lot of fun. that's what we're hoping for. we're excited about all the action. we're hoping to see the pope. >> came from canada to see him. hone to get a glimpse. >> i'm here with my wife and six children and a priest friends of ours from canada as well. >> reporter: so, again demand for mass transit today seems somewhat modest. they had expected 55,000 people on the train lines. they got a little over 25,000 it looks like. train ridership certainly
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above a normal day on the septa system but not where people were expecting just a few weeks ago. patco also reporting rather modest numbers today saying that they had about 15,000 riders. they normally have on an average day we're told about 18,000 riders so you can do the numbers here. just for some reason people did not seem to turn to mass transit. now, tomorrow may be different. there are actually more bookings at least reservations on the books we should say and with it being the mass tomorrow, the expectation is particularly after such an easy ride today, that more people will try mass transit tomorrow. live at 30th street station, john rawlins channel6 "action news." jim. >> thank you, john. helping us today is father gus paglia pastor of saint patrick church in norristown and an associate professor at saint charles borromeo seminary. we had quite a scene there today when the pope rolled up. >> we did. >> the pope is going talk about immigration, he's going to talk about hispanics and he's he going to talk about
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religious freedom. about a third of all catholics in this country of the 70 million catholics in this country are hispanic but when you look at catholics under 40, half of them are hispanic. >> correct. >> it seems like the future of the catholic church in america is largely hispanic. >> correct. i agree with you completely. and that's why i urge the seminarians to study spanish. it's up to us to work with them to teach them, i'm talking about the seminarians so that the people can contain their culture, remain as a people who speak spanish with their culture, with their traditions with their religion and it's up to us to help them do that. >> the fact that this pope is from south america is symbolic but also very substantive of the fact that the -- not the power of the catholic church but the demographic power of the catholic church is moving
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south,. >> correct. >> it used to be west, it used to be north. it is moving south. >> correct. and a lot of the catholics these days are in the southern hemisphere, africa, brazil, latin america, and for our people that are coming up into the united states, as the pope said, going north, we can see the influence. we can see how the church is changing in this country and we can see that pope francis is such a big force, not just for catholics as you said but for the world. >> i want to introduce professor maureen o'connell who is chairman of religious studies at lasalle university. illegal immigration is a very hot button issue in the united states and in the congress of the united states. about 83 percent of illegal immigrants to this country are from latin america or
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philippines. most of them are catholic. the pope is asking this country to be kind to our illegal immigrants but it is a -- it is a controversy that this country is going to have for a long time. >> it is. it is, jim and i think the interesting thing about pope francis is, yes, he does hail from the global south. he is our first latin american leader of the global church but he is also like myself a european immigrant. he is a second generation italian from argentina so i think in a way when he speaks this afternoon, he's really going to be able to talk about those -- he will embody these two questions facing us right now in the united states, the question of undocumented folks in our communities, in our churches, in our schools and also the history of the united states as being a country of immigrants and so he will really present in a way i suspect as he's done in many places during his visit to the
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northern hemisphere, to the americas that this is an invitation for catholics, for christians for people of goodwill to recognize ourselves in the folks who are coming here for many of the same reasons that my ancestors came to the united states. >> we'll come back to this. mayor michael nutter is now speaking to the crowd at independence mall. let's listen. >> my government family is here and i want to give a shout-out to my school family, the sisters at transfiguration of our lord and the jesuits and lay people at saint of sainsaint joseph's preparatory high school. these three families shape and molded me. i'm deeply honored to welcome his holiness pope francis he and all of you to the city of
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philadelphia and this world meeting of families and what better place for pope francis to end his historic trip to the united states of america than at william pep's green wiln country town, the home of his experiment persecuted for his religious beliefs, william penn established the colony of pennsylvania with a democratic system complete religious freedom for all and fair trials. he built a community on the tenets of tolerance consensus and love. and those values live on in the soul of our great city, the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection. today philadelphia is a diverse city, a city of immigrants, a cosmopolitan city of all races and all faiths. we are a welcoming city no matter your ethnicity, income or sexual orientation.
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now, we are standing just steps from the doors of independence hall. here our founding fathers crafted the single greatest document proclaiming human freedom, the declaration of independence promising all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. here our new nation, one nation under god was born. ben franklin said freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men but a right that belongs to us by the laws of god and nature. when pope francis speaks to us this afternoon, he will be standing at that lectern used by president abraham lincoln to deliver the gettysburg address. lincoln who spoke of our nation's great task remaining
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to make real a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. we're gathered this week in celebration of the family. pope francis calls family an essential element in the growth of a great nation. but at times he doesn't define his composition. instead, he talks about the bonds of familial love, the richness and the beauty of family life. love encourages us to see our neighbors as our brothers and sisters no matter their orientation religious affiliation, nation of origin, race or economic status. speaking to congress this past thursday, pope francis invoked the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. the world of great diversity, this bold christian challenge asks us to treat every person
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we encounter with compassion and empathy including those who may be different from us, those who do not look like us or talk like us. stranger in our midst, the outsiders in our communities, the marginalized men, women and children in our society. as pope francis said, we are all immigrants whether we arrived tianjin precipitations arrived 10 minutes ago or 10 minutes ago. they are the man on the road to jericho in need of a good samaritan. we must remember that these pilgrims long to become part of the american people. this nation has been strengthened by their labors, their love, their dreams. this is certainly true in our great city. philadelphia has benefited from the new business energy and ideas of our vibrant
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immigrant community and our city and this nation will prosper with common sense immigration reform that offers a pathway to citizenship for thousands and millions of hard working people who just want to be in america. (applause). on this point, as always, there's great debate in america as we head toward the next presidential election. we cannot let the rhetoric and racism of some carry the day. more than 125 years ago france gave us a great lady to stand watch in the harbor of new york city and welcome our new americans. when the huddled masses, the tired, poor and weary knocked on our doors, we opened them, we said you are home. we can't turn our backs on these strangers in our midst
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now. as a nation of immigrants, we must stand together and remember that love is stronger than hate, fear and prejudice. we must embrace our immigrant brothers and sisters for these new americans, these pilgrims wander the same rights and freedoms that each and every one of us have. we should rejoice in their american dreams and support them as part of our great american family. and so just as lincoln's america did more than 150 years ago, our country continues to strive to be that more perfect union. john f. kennedy our first and only catholic president said, "tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own belief. other it condemns the persecution of others. we must maintain our collective fight against discrimination and oppression. in america everyone has
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rights. our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered citizens continue to fight for human rights and equality. when speaking to the bishops of the united states of america, pope francis said may no member of christ's body and the american people feel excluded from the pope's embrace. he had previously said when asked a question if someone is gay and searches for the lord and has goodwill, who am i to judge? i've come not to judge but i can testify a gay man, john c. anderson a member of city council many years ago gave me an opportunity to enter politics and is responsible for my being in public service today. today i thank john c. anderson for his service, mentorship and courage. who are any of us to judge the lives of others?
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the scripture tells us judge not lest we be judged. we are one society, one people, and one family. to our lgbt community remember the words of frederick douglas, power concedes nothing without a demand. it never did and it never will. keep fighting for your right. it's a collective fight and there are many others fighting with you. and so whether an individual is gay or straight, an immigrant or natural born citizen, well three or poor, what matters most is our humanity our willingness to do good, to build up others, to make better this world, our society our global community and our human family or as sojourner truth, pioneer of many causes for equality and human freedoms so eloquently said the spirit calls me. and i must go. and so let the spiritual
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message of pope francis, a message of love and compassion of dialogue and service to others move all of us to more action, more compassion and more love for all across the united states of america and around the world. god bless philadelphia. god bless america and god bless pope francis. thank you. >> chap chap. >> philadelphia mayor michael nutter not shrinking back from some very controversial issues. he reportedly wanted to talk with pope francis about lgbt issues during the pope's stay in philadelphia. we don't know whether that has happened. or we don't know if that is going to happen. but the issues of gay marriage and homosexuality and mare mayor michael nutter also came down very decidely on one side
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of the immigration controversy that is tearing apart through the congress of the united states right now. and he finds himself of course on the same side of that issue as does pope francis. i want to ask you the speech today and we've had is going to focus very much on religious freedom. religious freedom and the pope has said as we look at governor tom wolf at the podium -- let me ask this question. the pope has said that the issue of religious freedom may be the highest priority for the catholic church in the 21st century. what does that mean? >> well, what i have to say is this country is based on religious freedom. and so he goes to independence mall to talk about it. it's very important and talks from a podium of the
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gettysburg address which is another important part in our history. and what he is trying to do is to say that we have the right to worship and to love as we we're loved -- love god and love not just god but the other people, the marginalized and that's what he says we are called to. >> religious freedom can mean not having to pay for a healthcare policy where contraceptive services are built into your premium and it can also mean the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of christians in the middle east. iraq has lost two-thirds of its christian population. how do you define religious freedom? there's a lot of latitude about that. seems to me the pope means it all. >> i think you're right
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>> forgive me for interrupting. if we could lower the governor's audio and raise the professor's audio, then we'll be able to understand. go ahead, thank you. >> thank you for that. it's a complicated issue in the catholic social tradition in which the pope stands religious liberty is at least at the level of organizations for the ability of different faith based organizations to contribute to the common good as they understand it. and the tricky thing were we see in the united states is that we have lots of different understandings about how to contribute to the common good and what constitutes the common good. but with the pope and congress earlier this week had suggested that the primary role of politics where religious freedom does play out is to work towards the common good and that's my some ways i think we saw in that
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address that he was playing up important social issues connected to life and maybe staying away from the polarizing issues that tend to not help politics in the united states working towards solutions even for those questions like abortion, like gay marriage, like the end to the death penalty, like, you know, good wages for american workers. >> but what's important about pope francis is not just his words but his gestures and in in washington, he did ask for that canonization mass a-he did visit. >> the sisters of the poor. >> and that's exactly what you're talking about with the sisters. the sisters have a court case, right, against -- they don't want to pay the insurance for drugs for abortion, for contraception, for things that are against their conscience and so his gesture is just as important as his words and
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he's trying to show us the way and the way of life he's trying to show us. >> hundreds of thousands of christians are being slaughtered in the middle east. he obviously is more than concerned about that. he is calling on world powers to put a stop to it and it is said that he thinks the united states can be and should be an ally in ending the slaughter of christians in the middle east. >> i mean i think the pope is very committed to seeing people who are invisible whether they're invisible in our economy, whether they're invisible in our global politics, whether they're invisible on the streets of philadelphia and calling folks who are in positions of power to think about how they're using that power on behalf of those folks and as father just said he is somebody who is leading by action and not simply by the things that he is saying. >> as we look at the papal motorcade making its way into the independence hall area,
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these people have been waiting here for a very long time and, well, they're about to see pope francis drive by. it's what they came here to do and they are about to see that first image of the pope and what has impressed me is how this pope has the ability to make eye contact with so many people whether he is in his car, in his popemobile or whether he's engaged with them in person. he has no problem staring -- not staring at someone but looking at someone right in the eye, extending a hand for a hearty argentinian handshake. >> exactly. >> that's one of the ways he makes contact with people. it's one of the reasons why people feel connected to this man. it's because he allows himself to make that visual connection with them. and there's the popemobile and
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what we are seeing here is the beginning of a relatively brief papal parade around independence mall. look at that. there we go. >> you're exactly right, jim, the word encounter is so important to him and to our catholic social teaching. to meet, to encounter the other and that's what he does. when we encounter christ and then we eventually encounter others and you can see it in all of his gestures as you said so correctly about being with others. >> "action news" reporter walter perez is in the area. walter, tell us what you see, tell us what you hear and tell us what you feel. >> reporter: well, jim at this point a lot of cheering and as you mentioned you really get to see the heart of this pope reaching out to the people that have been waiting there for hours and hours, some from the night before and it also really speaks to the
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heart of what a lot of people that i have been speaking with in this area have been saying whether it's religious leaders and catholic lay people, they're really describing this pope as a church or -- the pope i should say who is changing a little bit the culture of the catholic church. a church that says you shall not, you shall not into a church more so that says this is what we should do. we should love and we should forgive at every move, at every turn. it's a subtle difference but a very important difference and it's really at the heart it seems of what pope francis has really brought to the catholic church as a whole and now bringing it right here to the city of philadelphia. [cheers and applause] >> this is where it all started for the government of the united states, independence hall. pope francis welcome to our history. welcome to the foundation of
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our freedom. in a moment you're going to talk about religious freedom. in the building that you will soon be standing in front of, they thought of the phrase congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the prefree exercise thereof. that's a lot of what you're going to be talking about. we understand that. and we look forward to what you have to say. but first there are the people, the pilgrims. philadelphians, south jerseyans and people from other parts of the country who have come here to see this. >> in a special way the
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immigrants, the immigrants are there. tickets to people in my parish for example to go down to hear his speech. >> we should tell you that father paglia is pastor of a largely hispanic congregation so many of the things we have been talking about here -- well, they're your life. >> exactly. >> they are your life. >> exact. and a very personal level. immigration problems, finding lawyers, trying to stop people from being deported and so it affects all of these people so much and it's so important for them t to be there and to hear it. >> walter. go ahead, walter i know you have something to say. >> reporter: the amazing thing at this point, i'm here about -- i'm about a football field away from independence hall and you can hear a pin drop. you can hear the pope's arrival because that's where all the screaming is coming from. people are very excited but people here are standing on
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their chairs and they're absolutely silent. just absolutely silent. you can hear a pin drop but you can hear the roar of the crowd as the pontiff comes closer and closer and right now to my left across the trees to the left of independence mall we can see a scuttlebutt, we can see the police passing by. he is very, very close. should be here in just moments. >> we should remind our viewers that he will be blessing the of the encuentro. >> he'll bless a 5-foot wooden cross. that journey didn't start in the last few years. because of the canonization process in washington, before the nation was -- in the 16 hundreds, they were hispanics were here in florida and
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california. this moment is symbolic and momentous. this is the pope's desire first of all to meet hispanics and by him meeting them, the way to do it will be through the cross. because the pope will bless not just the cross but the people, the latinos here, their history and the shared journey with the church. >> a moment of irony that brown building behind him is the bourse building. the pope has talked about capitalism and lined him the first example of just that. >> exactly. >> and that is a central theme of the pope's message so far, whether that's his first apostolic letter, the joy of the gospel or his more recent encyclical on the environment is that an economy that
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excludes people, that puts capital before it puts people, it's something that is creating -- is a driver of all sorts of social ills and creating all sorts of economic conditions of inequality which he has named as the gravest social ill and also something that's threatening the well-being of the planet. >> he makes that connection all the time between the excesses of unbridle capitalism and the destruction of the planet. >> yes, the people and the planet, yes. >> exactly. >> let's go back to walter perez on site. walter. >> reporter: jim, he is just turning onto the mall right now. the motorcade has made its way to this part of the property and now the crowd is really coming alive as i mentioned before it was absolute silence. people practically holding their breath as he arrived and there he is turning the corner right in front of independence hall. it's inning when you talk to
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people working security here they say they are really on edge and you can see in the shadows all over the place security is everywhere and you know why it has to be so heavy because he wants to be out there with the people. you saw moments ago he made the popemobile stop at least once to kiss a toddler and then to kiss a newborn baby. it was a beautiful sight. now he's past that point. he's about 40, 50 yards away from where we're standing right now greeting the people, getting a present there, kissing a baby i should say. and getting trod address the crowd and there we see a wonderful shot of pope francis arriving in philadelphia right here in front of independence hall. it is amazing jim once again how quiet this crowd is. you can hear the screaming of the crowd but here the audience wants to hear every moment that's passing by, they want to hear what's being said and they want to focus on the man as he approaches the lectern. >> these are magnificent pictures. of course we have all been where he is now.
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we have all spent a great deal of time at independence hall and to know that he shares that experience with us is thought provoking, no question about it. he will use the lectern used by abraham lincoln when he delivered the gettysburg address. what symbolism is that? >> it's a really rich symbolic moment because in many ways, jim, we're grasp -- grafting pope francis into religion in the united states, basically sort of the symbols and the rituals and the speeches and figures that we invoke as americans to create a sense of unity and a sense of identity and so having the pope use that, that podium in front of independence hall is certainly very important but i also think it lifts up something that mayor michael nutter was doing in invoking its memory of frederick douglas and sojourner truth much as the pope invoked memories of great american figures in congress,
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he's reminding us in some ways of the history that we don't often tell at independence hall, the history of enslaved peoples here in the united states and their very proud legacy and the way that legacy lives on and the black catholic church or the black catholic church here in philadelphia so it's a very -- using that podium really opens up a whole lot of dimensions on the symbolic and sacramental level. >> abraham visited president's hall twice. on one of his visits he said i would rather be as fascinated on this spot rather than to give up these principles there i say and i think that's pope francis today. so strong about these ideas, about immigration, about love of others, love of environment, love of god and
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he challenges us. today at the cathedral he had this wonderful homily in which it said -- he invoked as you said before these wonderful so call figures, he invoked katherine drexel. who was a girl then who went to see pope leo and he wanted him to do something for the african-americans and for the native americans and he said to her, so beautifully, and pope francis says it so wonderfully et tu and you, what are you going to do and he so he challenges us that way in this very wonderful way of invoking history. >> pope leaving his jeep wrangler popemobile made in ohio. he will go into what is really the front of independence hall although many of us might think it's the rear of independence hall 'cause we're
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used to seeing independence hall from chestnut street. he will go through the building and then he will emerge through the doors of independence hall. you can see archbishop chaput and by the way happy birthday archbishop. archbishop chaput is on his right. there is his translator whom we have talked about at some length from the bbc. oh, and this is the cross of encentros and this will be the blessing ceremony
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>> e nyu entros from missionary activity leadership element pastoral discernment for hispanics throughout the world. >> the word means. >> it means meeting oarr encounter. >> it fits the pope. [speaking foreign language] >> can you hear what she's saying. >> so, in this movement we have a missionary disciple. he's asking us pleading for us to be disciples and it comes from the u.s. bishops conference and it's every three or four years and that cross will now go around the
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country for other hispanics to see for other hispanics to pray with. he says then together, we work together, all of us under the auspices of a diocesan bishop, lay people, religious leaders to work together to create an environment of love for all and what he said at the end of that wonderful homily he said in washington,. [speaking foreign language], go forward. >> senator bob casey and his wife shaking hands with the pope walter perez. >> reporter: jim, very quickly just to go over a little bit about what that cross meant a little bit further, it's a 5-foot cross, it's called once again the. [speaking foreign language], a
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symbol of a past present and future of the hispanic church community and presenting the cross on behalf of the hispanic community was archbishop lows say gomez of los angeles, bishop daniel flores of texas, bishop gerald barns of sa san bernadino california and a family of seven who came from mexico. the blessing of the cos is a symbolic moment. according to bishop flores he says it's a blessing of a people, a process a history an shared journey of faith meeting the the head of the park service in philadelphia. and now getting a little
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walking history lesson of independence hall. pope francis this is where it happens. this is where america was bor born. >> very different feeling for the pope in philadelphia than what he got in washington and new york. when he was in new york he saw s-, well, he came down fifth avenue from wall street came up fifth avenue from wall street, he stayed in the embassy residence on the upper east side. he saw the most expensive real estate in the world and the glitz and glamour of east zeidman man. here in philadelphia what he is seeing here is a more simple, more basic visual encounter with the people. >> well, but also the soul of america, the history of america. he's walking into a beautiful
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red brick building from the 18th century. there is -- you know, no fancy stores on either side as you would have driving down fifth avenue. this is a quieter more fundamental taste of how this country was born. >> and certainly as a catholic tradition in which he stands with many of the same things we sort of see as our central values or our real points of pride in terms of freedoms, freedom of religious liberty or if that's freedom of speech or the right for workers to gather and unionize, all of these things that are so central to sort of the american experience and were contested here in meaningful ways are things that also are porn in the catholic social tradition. there are many points of resonance. >> of similarity. >> yes, of similarity. >> of connecting the dots, if you will.
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>> and at the same time just as america struggles to live out the idea deals o ideals andt way in philadelphia the place where it all began we see that same struggle happens within the church as well. so it's a striving towards ideals. >> i think he gets the church history of philadelphia, too. earlier at the cathedral this monumental building and it's been there for years, he goes to the seminary which is one of the great buildings here in philadelphia, too. >> do you think he's heard the name dennis dougherty since he's been here. >> i'm sure he has. >> maybe he got a chance to watch urban trinity. >> exactly. >> you know what, forgive me, when i was introducing you, i made a error. not own is dr. o'connell chair of religious studies at lasalle university but she's also one of the producers of urban trinity the story of catholic philadelphia, the
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first edition of claw on our air tuesday night. >> it was. >> and the second part which will be on our air at midnight tomorrow night. >> tomorrow evening. >> and it was brilliant. i thought it was brilliant. >> beautiful job. >> i was a contributor but sam katz and indicate see at saint joseph's university. >> you know what i'm thinking of katie. never minds. >> the accolades are well deserved for that production. it was fantastic. >> professor katie will be very upset with me but we'll make it up to her tomorrow when she joins us. we will these doors are going to open and he's going to start maybe one of the most important speeches of this entire journey from his point of view. this is when he gets to talk about religious freedom and nothing is more important to him within the contemporary
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world than that. he's going to be talking about the hispanic community and the catholic church. >> right. >> clear from a political standpoint from a religious standpoint, from a social standpoint, it is a ground swell, a demographic ground swell which is changing the face of the catholic church and he's going to be talking about immigration, immigration brings in a poor church for the poor. >> correct. >> immigrants, illegal immigrants certainly tend to be poor. >> correct. >> and he is asking this country, in fact, here's a tweet from the pope in 2013, one of his first tweets when he said, "we pray for a heart which will embrace immigrants. god will judge us upon how we have treated the most needy ." one of his first tweets on twitter from pope francis and that really explains his entire philosophy on
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immigration. >> correct. not just immigration on everything it seems. he's always looking to the margins, right, to the marginalized. >> to the periphery. >> to the periphery exactly. >> ♪ >> and that's how we'll be judged, how we deal with the vulnerable. >> let's watch the here is pope francis at independence hall. >> ♪ (applause). >> ♪ >> ♪
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>> ♪ >> ♪ >> ♪
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>> ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause]
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>> your holiness distinguished guests and friends, the united states is an experiment in freedom, ordered by law and ordered to basic truths about the human person. the greatest good in the american character comes from our belief in a merciful god, a god who guarantees the dignity and rights of all his children. alexander hamilton was america's greatest founding fathers. he helped write our constitution here at independence hall. he was also one of our greatest immigrants. born in the west indies, hamilton was a friend of george washington. he fought in the revolution. wrote nearly two-thirds of the
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federalist papers and set the united states on a course to become a world power. the lesson in his life is simple. this is a nation that no single ethnic group or privileged economic class owns. it's a country where a person who comes from nowhere can still make a difference. it's a nation where a man who never knew his own birthday and who was born out of wedlock can take part in the birth of a new order. he reminds us that immigrants from around the world renew this country he in every generation. they breathe new life into what george washington called the bosom of america. we live at an odd time in history when the church defends marriage and the family the unborn child and the purpose of human sexuality
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she is attacked as being too harsh. which she defends immigrant workers and families that are broken by deportation she is attacked as too soft. and yet the church is neither of these things. pope john qqii described the church as the mother and teacher of humanity, a mother who understands and lovers the whole human person from conception to natural death always consistently and everywhere. when it comes to immigration the church reminds us that in the end all of us are children of the same loving god that makes us brothers and sisters despite the borders that separate us and in arguing over borders to keep people out, we need to be vigilant against the erecting those
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same borders in our hearts. my dear friends the person who speaks that truth most powerfully is with us today and i invite the holy father, the son of immigrants, to share his thoughts with us now. pope francis. [cheers and applause]
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[speaking foreign language] >> the interpreter: dear friends. good afternoon. one of the highlights of my visit is to be here at independence mall, the birthplace of the united states of america. it was here that the freedoms which define this country were first proclaimed, the declaration of independence which stated that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights and that
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governments exist to protect and defend those rights. these ringing words continue to inspire us today even as they have inspired peoples throughout the world to fight for the freedom to live in accord dance with their dignity. but history also shows that these or any truths must constantly be reaffirmed, reappropriated and defended. the history of this nation is
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also the tale of a constant effort lasting to our day to embody those lofty principles in social and political life. we remember the great struggles which led to the abolition of slavery, the extension of voting rights, the growth of the labor movement and the gradual effort to eliminate every kind of racism and prejudice directed at the successive waves of new americans. (applause).
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this shows that when a country is determined to remain true to its founding principles, those principles that were foundational and based on respect for human dignity, that country is strengthened and renewed. when a country keeps in its memory and remembers its past, it continues to grow and to be renewed and to assume and take into its bosom new peoples all of us benefit a greater deal from remembering our past. a people which remembers does not repeat past errors.
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instead, it looks with confidence to the challenges of the present and of the future. remembrance saves a people's soul from whatever or whomever would attempt to dominate it or use it for its own -- or their interests. when individuals and communities are guaranteed the effective exercise of their rights, not only are they free to realize their own potential but they also with their work contribute to the welfare and to the enrichment of all of
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society. (applause). in this place, which is symbolic of the american way of the model of the united states, i would like to reflect with you on the right to religious freedom. (applause). it is a fundamental right which shapes the way we interact socially and personally with our neighbors whose religious views differ from our own
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the ideal of interreligious dialogue where all men and women of different religious traditions may dialogue without fighting each other, that is what religious freedom gives us. religious freedom certainly means the right to worship god individually and in community as our own conscience dictate dictates. but on the other hand religious liberty by its
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nature transcends places of worship and the private sphere of individuals and families. because the religious dimension is not a church, it is a part of any society and any nation. (applause). our various religious traditions our various religious traditions serve society primarily by the message they proclaim.
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they call individuals and communities to worship god, the source of all life, liberty and happiness. they remind us of the transcendent dimension of human existence and of our airy decibeairy decibel freedomy claim to power. we need but look at history and it is good for us to look at history especially to the history of this last century to see the atrocities perpetrated by systems which claim to build one or another
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earthly paradise by dominating people subjecting them to apparently indisputable principles and denying them any kind of rights. our rich religious tradition seek to offer meaning and direction. they have an enduring power to open new horizons always, to stimulate thought, to expand the mind and heart. they call for reconciliation, concern for the future of society, to self sacrifice in the service of the common good and compassion for those in need. at the heart of their
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spiritual mission is the proclamation of the truth and dignity of the human person and of all human rights. (applause). our religious traditions remind us that as human beings, we are called to acknowledge an other who reveals our relational identity in the face of every effort to impose a uniformity to which the ego tim of the powerful the conformism of the week or the ideology of the utopian would seek to impose on us. in a world where various forms
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of modernyranny seek to reduce it to a subculture without right to a voice or vote in the public square or to use religion as a pretext for hatred and brutality, it is imperative that the followers of the various religions join their voices in calling for peace, for tolerance and respect for the dignity and rights of others. (applause). hwe live in a time subject
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to the globalization of the techno chat particular paradigm which consciously aims at a one dimensional uniformity and seeks to eliminate all differences and traditions in a superficial quest for unity. the religions thus have the right and the duty to make clear that it is possible to build a society where a healthy pluralism which truly respects differences and values them as such is a precious ally in the commitment to defending human dignity and a path to peace in our troubled world.
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in our world so harmed by war. (applause). the quakers who founded philadelphia were inspired by profound evangelical sense of the dignity of each individual as well as by the ideal of a community united by brotherly love. this conviction led them to build a colony which would be a haven of religious freedom and tolerance. that sense of fraternal concern for the dignity of all especially the weak and the vulnerable became an essential
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part of the american spirit. during his visit to the united states in 1987, saint john paul ii paid moving homage to this, reminding al that the ultimate test of their greatness was the way that every human being would be treated but especially the weakest and the most defenseless ones. (applause). i take this opportunity to thank all those who whatever their religion have sought to
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serve god, have sought to serve the god of peace by building cities of brotherly love, by caring for neighbors in need, by defending the dignity of the -- the dignity of god's gift of life in all its stages, by defending the cause of the poor and the immigrant. too often those most in need everywhere are unable to be heard. you are their voice and many of you, men and women, religious, have made their cry heard. with this witness which frequently encounters powerful resistance, you remind american democracy of the
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ideals for which it was founded and you remind us that society is weakened whenever and wherever any injustice prevails. (applause). a few moments ago i spoke of the tendencyards globalization. globalization in and of itself is not bad. on the contrary globalizing is good. it brings us together.
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maybe that is the way this happens. if globalization will seek to make everyone the same as if it were a single sphere that globalization destroys the richness and the particularity and individuality of every person and every people. if globalization seeks to bring them together but to do so respecting each person, each individual person's richness and peculiarity, respecting all peoples and their own distinct tension that globalization is good and
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leads to peace. i like to use geometry here. globalization is a sphere where each point is eke with distant from the center then it isn't good because it annuls each of us. but if globalization joins us where we are altogether but each conserves his identity, then it's good and it gives dignity to all men and grants them rights. there are among us today
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members of america's large hispanic population. [cheers and applause] >> reporter: as well as representatives of recent immigrants to the united states. thank you for opening this door. many of you have emigrated and i greet you with particular affection. many of you have emigrated to this country at great personal cost but in the hope of building a new life. do not be discouraged by whatever challenges and hard ships you face.
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i ask you not to forget like those who came here before you, you bring many gifts to this nation. [cheers and applause] please don't ever be ashamed of your traditions. [cheers and applause] do not forget the lessons you learned from your elders which is something that may enrich the life of this american land. (applause). i repeat, do not be ashamed of that which is a part of your life blood. you are also called to be responsible citizens.
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you are called to be responsible citizens and to contribute as those who came before did so, to contribute fruitfully to the life of the communities in which you live. i think in particular of the vibrant faith which so many of you possess, the deep sense of family life and all those other values which you have inherited. by contributing your gifts, you will not only find your place here, you will help also to renew society from within.
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(applause). do not forget what happened here more than two centuries ago. do not forget that declaration that proclaimed that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator of certain inalienable rights and that governments exist to protect and defend these rights. (applause). dear friends, i thank you
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for your warm welcome and for joining me here today. let us keep and care for freedom. the freedom of conscience, religious liberty, each individual, each family, each peoples own liberty which is what gives us our rights. may this country and each of you be renewed in gratitude for the many blessings and freedoms that you enjoy. and may you defend these rights especially religious freedom given to you by god. may god bless you all and i
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ask you please pray for me a little bit, too. thank you
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i think this was the first time since he has been in the united states where he has said the word slavery and racism and prejudice. that's clearly notable particularly in front of the independence hall. when he talked about the essentialalty of other religions that was abdomin will i -- abdo-
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ab libed. when he asked the other religions to beat this back and protect the dignity and rights of others, he is calling on the great powers of the world to stop this carnage in the middle east and in africa against christians. what was your play on the speech. >> i was moved by the word remembrance, he tells us to remember, remembrance saves a person's soul. that's so important. the echo goes back to the mass do this in remembrance of me, very catholic for people. and he tells us to remember the tradition, the catholic tradition, the tradition he starts talking about history, alexander hamilton. he talks about john xxiii.
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the teacher of humanity. he said by remembering the past we are renewed now and we can take in new people until he brings it up to the present and he teaches the way he loves us. >> professor o'connell. >> i was struck by the pope's invitation to respond to social problems to faith communities recognizing the church is in partnership with other faith traditions. he didn't talk about the tradition, he talked about religious traditions working together toward the common good. that he resonate in philadelphia. we have several inner faith coalitions that are working toward the common good that's the new sanctuary movement. working on issues of economic exclusion, that sensor that the church is in partnership and in
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dialogue with others, it is striking a different tone which is exciting. >> thank you for your wisdom and your time. >> thank you, it was great to be here. >> let's go to walter perez who is on the scene, walter? >> jim, as you you heard he discussed so many topics he discussed america in particular to embrace immigration and protect the weakest and the poor among us. he discussed the importance of opening inner religious dialogue around the world. he spoke about the importance of religion in general and not catholicism in general. he spoke about the dangers around the world of creating religions and reducing it i should say to a sub culture around the world.
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you could see his passions escalate when he spoke about global saition is not a -- global saition is not a bad thing, but when it's takes away the history and background it's a bad thing. he said don't be ashamed of who you are and bring what you have to the countries speaking to the people here who are of foreign accident. it is so fascinating when he says pray for me a little bit. reporting live from independence hall, walter perez back to you. >> reporter: we'll go live to wendy saltzman who is at one of the check points as this crowd begins to depart. wendy. >> reporter: jim, people be pouring out of the checkpoint at 6th and rails from independence hall. here's one of the interesting things that happened here today. with this check point closed
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down around 4:00 p.m. we heard from multiple people who had tickets they said they were not able to get into the event. that was very discouraging with some people who feel they have gone too far above with security and that prevented people from having access. the answer is how long it will be for the checkpoint to open back up. i spoke with the secret service as well as the tsa. they don't know if it is going to open up tonight and keep this street blocked. it will calls a problem with road closures and the traffic. if a lot of people couldn't get in this is where they want to franklin square. there's a jumbotron. a lot of them if they didn't get a chance to see the pope live they came here to see his speech on the jumbotron. everything people are waiting for is getting a view of the
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pope as he leaves. that's what we are waiting for. a lot of questions for people asking if we have inside information where the pope is going to go so they can see him one more time as he leaves independence mall. live at independence mall, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you, wendy, you have happy people behind you. we're going to brian taff and sharrie williams talking to an old friend charles hagueen. >> reporter: no stranger for charles hagueen the pastor in doylestown. he joins channel 6 and "action news" covering, pope john paul ii when he made his swrift to the delaware -- visit to the dee valley. we're thankful for having you here, listening to the pope he called the freedom a funds
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mental right. we wants your reaction to the speech. >> i'm delayeded to be -- delighted to be at this historic parkway. it's been a long day for pope francis. he challenge the the church to move from a service station model to a field hospital model citing saint st. patrick's st. e drexel. he asked i am dwranlts to bring along -- immigrants to bring along their tradition and not to be afraid to speak of their tradition to family and neighbors because that enriches society. >> we're excited to have you here, we'll talk throughout the night as our coverage continues. tomorrow you'll be joining us for the mass, the mass you did
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in 1979. it is such a wonderful prospective you'll bring to us, we appreciate that. with respect to the speech one of the lines that jumped out to me, is this, it's pope francis clearly knowing his audience. i take this opportunity to thank those of whatever religion who sought to serve the god of peace buildings the city of brotherly love. a shoutout to philadelphia. could you reflect on how much he put into this city. >> that was an example of telling people that religions can cooperate when we see religious divisions like christians being prosecuted in the middle east and having to flee their homelands and the quaker tradition in philadelphia which opened religions in the very beginning. it's important where he worked with people on different
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traditions, where he went to the middle east where he brought along a rabbi and muslim cleric showing the possibility of working together. s gestures are very important. >> wondering when you talk about religious freedom where would pope francis draw the line of defining what he meant by that, what did you here, monsignor hagueen that context. >> i think he wants the church to operate freely in the united states. the limitations imposed on the church are difficult for the christians to accept. >> i want to give you a sense before we send things back to the studio. you hear music, the concert has not begun, they are doing mic checks, we've been treated to truly wonderful acts. we just heard a soaring voice it
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will blow you away. this concert will be broadcast live entirely on 6abc. the three of us bringing it to you. >> thank you, brian we'll send it to new mexico nervous system you're on television -- nora muchanic you're on television and in the middle of the big crowd on the parkway. >> reporter: i am indeed, jim, we're at 189th and he parkway. we're waiting for a glimpse of the holy father. the popemobile went by after the holy father was dropped off at independence mall and everybody cheered. that's how desperate they are. i want to introduce you to joys they came from inindiana. how long have you been been here? >> we showed up at 8:00 a.m. >> reporter: have you seen him? >> no we missed him he's been in the black car.
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>> reporter: you're waiting for the popemobile for the parade. >> we didn't realize how long your city is, he is way over there in the popemobile so we can't run to get it. >> reporter: ii want to introdue you to folks and pilgrims who have come from orlando. these folks are charismatic catholics. say hello. >> hello! tells about your journey. >> it took 22 hours to come here riding by bus, a long journey, a lot of fun, a lot of jokes, we came to see the pope. i meant to pray for all the blessing for florida orlando. >> reporter: you hope to see the pope when he drives by. >> yeah, happiness blessings for everybody. >> reporter: we've got a lot of pilgrims here, take a look at the yair if you -- area if you , they are so patient, so patient,
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they've waiting to see. we're in the cheap seats, but i'll tell you what these people couldn't be more enthuse average. a love -- enthusiastic. lovely at. we couldn't hear what the holy father was saying, because of the jumbotron is across street. there's a happy, joyful, prayerful atmosphere, if you will, everybody is happy to be here. nora muchanic. >> you're in the papal 700 level. that's where the fun is, that's where the action is. david henry is keeping track of the security as part of all this and it would seem, david, the security operation was going on without a glitch. pretty much without a glitch, jim, not if you ask the people who were waiting in lines.
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this is one of the check points, there are ninemers. there ares' huge crowd on the other side of the checkpoint area. we're looking at another hour or so for the crowd to get through. the pope will be passing by this general area. it has been a long, long day out here, you can see these are tsa agents, just like you see at the airport. people are going through the magnotomers. every single bag that comes through is being hand checked. it's been a long arduous job. but i have to say these people are very patient and very understanding and very pleasant.
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both the agents and the people coming through the check points. we have k-9s out hear checking larger parcels, music offal instruments have been coming through all day long. they are not on the prohibited list. musical instruments are not on the list, we've seen people having their umbrellas and other things confiscated. they are walking through with guitars and drums and others things the dogs have to check out. we've talk to people from mississippi and texas and colorado and nigeria, they also to a person this has abdomin -- has been a rather flawless painless process, they came in on charter buses and got on the broad street subway and walnut locust station and walked over here. one family spend 22 hours on a bus before getting here. you can imagine it would try
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most people's patients, but everybody is taking it in good stride. it's hard to say how long people will be coming through the check point. he has a long night on the parkway. very few incidents out here, the philadelphia police reported one person taken into custody, but they were released. we have an estimate from licenses and inspections that 20,000 people have come through this one checkpoint alone so far today. they are coming through at the rate of about 1500 people per hour, but still not fast enough to satisfy the folks here. all of them are starting to flock toward city hall where they have lined the streets around city hall. waiting to get a glimpse of the pope as he passes by during his parade. we are told that will happen an hour from now, some of the people have been out there for
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ten hours or more waiting to see him past by. it is a festive atmosphere out here, enough to try anybody's patience, but this crowd is taking it in stride, we'll be out here monitoring the situation, there have been no major incidents. things confiscated, apples and oranges and hard drink containers anything that can thrown. people are getting through here and hopefully have a good night ahead of them. >> it's that fruit contraband that causes a problem. thank you so much. david henry on market street. we'll go to rick williams and monica malpass at our parkway studio. rick, monica? >> reporter: hi, jim, as we continue to sit above the parkway and waves and waves of people flood the parkway. it was clear that the pope's message wasn't lost on this
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crowd. of course thanks to the huge jumbotrons that are lining the parkway. but as many people listened to the pontiff and throughout his speech there were waves of cheers and applause. they were certainly listening to his message. much of it was in spanish, it showed the diversity of the crowd, heard the pope and understood what he was saying and agreed with the message. >> it was a regal sight alone the 266th pope in front of our freedom of birth, calling for a revolution of the spirit and heart asking catholics and non-catholics to start a brand new effort to save the planet. even if folks didn't understand the spanish part they could see the love and warmth and
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commitment in his eyes. >> as we look from our vantage point along the benjamin franklin parkway. when he first walked out of the independence hall the common man was played that took you to the symbolism of the moment. i think the excitement continues tonight because this will be the pope's next arrival here for the concert, of course the papal mastectomy. cathy gandolfo our colleague of whom covered popes before us, and been to the vatican many times, cathy, you have yet to see pope francis in person, what will that bring to you when you see him in person. >> i'll be as excited as the people down there. i was out there earlier today when he came to the facility. of course he was in the fiat, so we really didn't get a good look, i felt the enthusiasm, i felt that as many times before
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seeing john paul ii in person and in fact touching his hands. i like to tell people since he is a saint i once touched the handle of a saint. >> that's a picture of when you were with me with him. >> reporter: that is our trip to rome i believe around 19 -- oh, that goes way back. that was 1988 for the beautification for catherine drexel. >> you've had a front seat to history. >> reporter: we did, the media was put at the top of the colonnade and we would shoot down, the last shot was the funeral of john paul in 20050. >> are you surprised that people are so hungry for a his
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message, it is so basic. it seems like people are hungry for that. . it is true, i think we get caught up in the united states. we live in a secular society and we enjoy our toys and those things are not important to us, every once in a while we have someone lietledz who is a clearly -- like this who is clearly a profounds religious leader who captures the hearts and minds of people around the world of various faith. why does that happen? you're right there's a deep-seeded hunger for something else besides our toys. >> you were a good catholic school girl, you want to saint marie goretti. when the pope walks over to the children, what is the lasting impact on the youngsters when they see the pontiff not just in
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their presence meeting eye to eye that easy smile he has. >> i think it is something they will remember. >> reporter: if i can back up since you're talking about my days as a catholic school girl, whistles a little girl the pope was an elderly man who lived in a far away land called the vatican. pope john xxiii was the beloved pope. he was almost like a grandfather figure. he started vatican ii, vatican council which had many, many changes to the church followed by john paul ii who left the the vatican who clocked hundreds of thousands of miles to meet the people, the people of all stripes like the children. now pope john paul ii, pope franciss recognizes the children.
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the children are our future. they are the future of the church and they are to be welcomed and they are to be protected. and he recognizes that and wants that message out there. i think when these children see the pope, they see a grandfather figure they don't see a stern individual that is preaching at them. they see somebody who they could love and he truly loves them. >> we'll be talking to you throughout tonight and tomorrow. >> let's go to the sarah bloomquist the tell us what's about to happen throughout the evening and tonight. hi, sarah. >> reporter: hi, rick and monica, people want something to happen. they've waiting all day, when the pope appeared on the jumbotron over at independence mall, they were so happy to see the holy father. the secret service moved an empty popemobile through as they
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were moving to put it into place later on tonight. that got many cheers as if the pope was riding inside it. aiken oval you can see rose and rose of -- rows and rows of white chairs lining you go. people beginning to take their seats here, many have been here all day long. these are ticketed seats, and special ticketed seats at that. these are people who were awarded these seats by the archdiocese or their parishes many because of what they do for their congas stations or churches -- congregations. we spoke with john mcgee of chestnut hill, he complains how he secured a -- explains how he got a good seat up close. tell me how it was getting in
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here and getting up to the area. >> it wasn't too bad, we drove to the man music center and got a shuttle bus from there it was very smooth. >> reporter: what do you expect from the day and the evening ahead. i don't know for sure, the highlight will be seeing the pope and getting a glimpse. there's entertainment playing aretha franklin is going to be here and some other entertainment that might be fun. >> reporter: as we look back live on eakens oval we see many nuns in the especially ticketed seats. these are people being rewarded for all that they do for their parishes across the city and around the region. we expect a vibrant contrary program tonight. we heard sound checks all afternoon. earlier we heard andre boce. will -- bocelli doing his sound check for amazing grace.
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this is the event of the papal visit, by that i mean the world meeting of families. the pope is here for the gathering, the good idea was to go to washington, d.c. an new york, the congress and the u.s., but the focus today and tomorrow is the family. tonight's program will include stories and appearance of families in all stages of life. couples newly engaged and couples married for many, many years. we have motor kids going by -- motorcades going by, and wouldn't get cheered by the crowd. looks like we have dignitaries coming through right now. the motorcade people being escorted in, again, the security it's very, very strong. perhaps, most, though up here in the areas where the pope will be appearing. there are layers and layers of security, both seen and unseen.
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this could be the mayor's entourage approaching eakens oval and the main stage where the program could go on tonight. for those of you at home maybe you had a ticket to the event. you're still wondering should i go for it. my husband and 4-year-old daughter had had tickets for the parkway, they walked through security and the barricades they, too, hoping to see the pope on the parkway. go for it, you can get here. live on the parkway, i'm sarah bloomquist channel 6 "action news." >> all right, sarah, thank you, she is among those who have tickets the lucky ones. danny mccormick -- and doesn't have tickets, but happy to be along the parkway. >> reporter: sarah is right you should come down. to give you an idea where i am.
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i'm at 24th and the parkway between sarah and nora. people are listening to the acts. they took a break to watch the pope give his speech at independence hall they watched on the jumbotrons, they prayed out loud they gave applause. they are back to the festive mode preparing for the big party. you can see people are filling in, there's a lot of people here, you can see some kids getting a bird's eye view up in the trees up there. give us a wave back, guys, there you go. if you look down there you can see the sea the people all the way down to the art museum. you can look at how have down the stage it. you can see you're a part of everything, the jumbotron makes it feel like you're at the stage. this is video of a number of people who left at 5:00 a.m. in order to get down, one family
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said they took their bikes down and went through the security checkpoints with no problems, they wanted to make sure they were in the front of the line. now, a number of people we talked to from mexico, puerto rico and belize and haiti they wanted to come out and be part of the moment. there are number of amazing performers whole take the stage. it sounds like the main event is just to see the pope. he is your idol growing up. i'll be 20 feet away from the pope. that's crazy. >> i go to st. joe's we were chatting and instagraming, i want to get him in the popemobile and see his whole body up close. >> i'm excited, i'm a people person. >> so happy and it's beautiful.
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it's really nice. to have the opportunity to see the pope. >> reporter: and we've been out here for several hours and made a lot of friends. this is father jeff who came from oregon with a number of people who used to be in his parish a long time ago they reconnected at the world meeting of families. you have a lot of to do with the canonization of saint serra. tell us us about that. >> we started in portland, organ. we started out here with the port handle serra club and international. we were in washington, d.c. for the new saint junipero serra, which is the second part of the journey, did he world meeting of
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families. it's a wonderful opportunity to be here among the people, it's a great joy you can feel that the church is alive. you can feel the energy. >> reporter: a lot of young people. >> exactly. >> reporter: father is going to finish this year going to rome. this is quite the year for you, father. >> right. >> reporter: what is amazing you knew each other along time ago and you met up here at the world meeting of families. what a surprise. >> it is a surprise, we were texting he walked by a few minutes ago we sat down and watched the feed together. >> reporter: great, you're excited to see the pope, as well. have you ever met him before. >> no i was in st. peter square in the vatican when he was elected pope 2013. when the white smoke came up and everybody was cheering i was able to well him as a new pope.
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while you're at home i want to give you an an idea besides seeing the pope, they will see the amazing performers, they are hoping to see the pope go down the parkway when he is set to begin the parade what is expected to leave from here and go throughout the city. that's why it's so crowd aid long there. everyone is hoping to get a glimpse. you heard sarah and nora how exited people were to see the popemobile. i can't imagine how exciting it will be for the pope to come by in the popemobile and wave. there's a couple out here, they have put on their wedding attire they were on their wedding day, the bride is in her gown, the groom in his wedding suit.
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the pope has a habit if he sees you in your actual apparel, he wants to give you a holy blessing. we've seen him kiss a number of children and babies, and they hope to be one of the newlyweds blessed on his way up and down the parkway. through thank you, annie, we want to switch to adam joseph at pennsylvania avenue. hi, adam. >> reporter: monica, we're in a residential neighborhood this is pennsylvania avenue and 23rd street. you can see city hall in the far distance and the top of the basilica, as well. the foot traffic has been light the entire day. there's a security checkpoint, we have yet to see the line back up. that's where the ticketholders, at least one of the spots they would see the concert that's up and coming in the next few hours, anyone is welcome to walk
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along pennsylvania avenue. you need the tickets to get in there. we're hearing the sound checks going on right now. this being a residential neighborhood, i've talked to a lot of people. they say a lot of people have left town in what they call a popecation to head out. there are some who embraced the chaotic fun atmosphere that is going on. mike like this man right here, he has the argintinian flag, the american flag and the pope flag. people are stopping by taking pictures of the home. what do you say about your home being like let's say an attraction so to speak. >> it's been wonderful we've met so many fun and interesting people all over the county and the world. it's been a great time. >> living here, i along the
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parkway, you said it's a great area it's usually peaceful, what it is like to be transformed? >> it's a bicycle paradise being able to bike around and walk around freely and welcome be people to this part of the world we love. >> reporter: you tell people you're my temporary neighbor for the weekend. the. >> we're having a party here. >> absolutely there's a party. >> reporter: he's been making cappuccinos for our crews, swell. speaking of fantastic, look at his shirt, francis with a ph. >> your mom and dad came from out of town. >> we're from washington the only people. what was the idea of coming to your son's place and crash for the weekend. >> i thought we would regret it if we didn't come. we've had a fabulous time and met so many wonderful people. it's been great being your neighbor. it's great to share the memories
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with you guys. talking about this is bicycle paradise. take a look at these guys, i said you have to hold on. you guys rented bikes, do you live in the city. we both go to temple. you rented the bikes, what is it like biking around the area of philadelphia today? >> it's awesome. there's so many people here. >> it's been hectic we've been finding ways to get down here, it's been fun. >> reporter: any sign of the pope? >> we're looking to find him. he will be here relatively soon keep your eyes out for that. we've been watching people walking by, they come down and check it out, one thing everyone has in common they have that huge smile on their face that look of awe, checking every angle out it's that contagious
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atmosphere around here, these folks biking, having a good time. did you come down here for a reason. do you live down here? >> i live in glenside, checking out the scene. >> reporter: what do you think so far? >> it was great spending the day around here and heading back. >> reporter: it will be loud, because the concert will be up and coming in the next few hours, you heard the sound check it was absolutely breath taking to hear, rick rick and monica, e foot traffic is relatively light. it is really contagious and everyone is taking it in, we can't wait to see what unfolds in this section of the city in the next couple of hours. >> adam, thank you for your reports from spring garden. >> our papal coverage continues online with digital updates live from our newsroom with traffic
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and papal news every half at 6abc.com and news app. we'll be right back. take a quick break and be right back.
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>> welcome back and we are listening to a sound check a 15-year-old from pittsburgh a young form of opera style singer she will be performing for the pope, as well. let's take a listen. ♪ ♪ ♪ when you wish upon a star
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♪ your dreams come true ♪ your dreams come true plause
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>> thank you. ♪
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ave. ♪ ave maria ♪ ♪ ♪ maria ♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ave maria ♪ ave maria ♪ aa plena. ♪ . ♪ ave maria ♪ e maria
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♪ ave maria ♪ ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ave heers.
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>> 15-year-old jackie evancho from pittsburgh, pennsylvania, five albums, a platinum a gold. the highlight of her career has to be performing for the pontiff. obviously this concert is well underway at eakens oval. >> she was discovered by posting videos of her singing on youtube. just imagine that angelic voice they was on tv at the age of ten and sold out at the age of 15. the pontiff wants his believers to go in the spirit of joy and happiness and look like they came from a funeral with salemty and serious -- solemnity, and
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seriousness. hopefully jackie is bringing that happiness to you. we're here on the parkway and wrap it up, stick around.
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>> saturday night and the big story on "action news" tonight is the pope in philadelphia. an hour ago, pope francis spoke candidly about immigration and religious freedom with independence hall serving as a grand backdrop. this is the pope in the popemobile coming into independence mall and then he started talking. independence hall before that the pope drove around the mall in the popemobile. the holy father kissed babies and blessed children on his journey to that historic address.
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the latest event is underway right now on benjamin franklin parkway performances for the festival of families began a half-hour ago. pope francis will make an appearance tonight with an a-list of performers, aretha franklin and andre bocelli and the philadelphia orchestra. you can see thousands have gathered for the festival and get a glimpse of pope francis. it's been an eventfully for the pontiff in philadelphia and an eventful day for the city. just over an hour ago the pope gave a speech on immigration and religious freedom. among them walter perez, the pope spoke of compassion for immigrants. >> reporter: he did, jim, it was extraordinary how quiet

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